Attend an event to advance your career

Attending career events early increases the opportunities you’ll have to grow your career before and beyond graduation. By making connections in your desired industry now, you’ll have an advantage when applying for jobs and growing your network for years to come.

Job fairs serve multiple purposes: to help you find a job, network with employers in your field, and explore options for your future career.

Prepare for the fair

Make a positive first impression on employers by coming to the fair dressed and ready to go. Consider these tips when preparing:

• Make a plan: Before the event, view the list of employers attending, identify the ones you want to meet, and research them. Prepare questions you’d like to ask them.
• Prepare your intro: Know and practice your introduction pitch. Include your major, career goals, interest in the employer, and unique selling point.
• Polish your materials: Edit and print copies of your resume prior to the fair to hand out to employers. The Office of Student Employment offers resume reviews to students seeking part-time employment. The career services office in your school can help if you're applying for full-time jobs or internships.
• Dress for success: Wear business casual or business professional attire that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Limit the number of accessories you have on. You can get free professional clothes from Hire Attire.
• Rest and relax: Job fairs take a lot of energy. Make sure to rest before the event and plan for some time to reflect afterward.

After the fair

The benefits of a job fair don’t have to end when the event does. Get the most from it by taking these steps:

• Place the business cards you received in a location you will remember.
• Follow up via email with those you met. Thank them for their time and restate your interest in them and their company.
• Create and use a personal tracking system for your follow-up interactions.
• Consider connecting with new contacts on LinkedIn.
• Apply for jobs that intrigued you at the fair, and continue to search for other positions.

Tips for following up via email

Over 65 percent of jobs are obtained through networking, so make sure to follow up with employers, especially after submitting an application. Consider these tips when drafting follow-up emails:

• Wait one to two weeks to send a follow-up email.
• Keep the email brief.
• Make your subject line simple, and include your name.
• Use an appropriate greeting (“Dear,” “Greetings,” “Good morning,” etc.).
• Reiterate your interest in the company, explaining why you are excited about connecting.
• List your professional contact information and a kind request. For example, you may ask for a status update on your application.
• Thank the individual and close with a formal phrase like “Regards.”
• Add a professional signature with your name, contact, program, etc.

If you applied for a job with the employer, include these extra details in your email:

• The title of the position in the subject line
• The date you applied and how you discovered the job. Express your interest in the role.